After an excellent start for Caldy RFC, where at one point they occupied the higher echelons of the table, the side from Merseyside have found it tough, registering two consecutive losses. DMPRFC’s recent results make worse reading, with three consecutive reversals and therefore the collision between the sides situated in mid-table, even at this stage of the season, was a 10-pointer.

Unusually, it was the visitors who began the brighter on a wet and windy day, dominated by the conditions in the first half and after only 8 minutes, skipper and lock Jacob BRADY touched down after some excellent interplay (0 – 5), Garry LAW missing the conversion.

DMPRFC had the better of the first half, putting the home side under pressure and creating the chances, but failing to capitalise putting further points on the board.

Needless to say, no chance for the rugby purists in attendance to witness any kind of free running rugby with the weather as it presented, so a scrappy game ensued before oranges, with the packs battering away in the wind and the rain.

Against the run of play and arguably the only way in the half that Caldy could have crossed the line in the first half, home centre Lewis BARKER produced the goods, fashioning the break which led to supporting winger Luke HIBBERD making the final 2-metres to touchdown for Caldy’s first try of the contest (5 – 5) The conversion from home kicker Ben JONES failed to find the target, levelling the scores and it wasn't long to oranges, allowing the players to gratefully ascend the steps to the changing rooms for a warm through.

The tied score was probably not reflective of the visitors first half dominant performance, but that was no consolation for the visitors.

So all was to play for as the second half resumed, with the brave supporters in attendance all geared up for their to break the deadlock and claim the spoils.

As conditions improved, it was Caldy RFC who set about the task with slightly more purpose. However, whilst not playing at their best, which unfortunately has been an unwelcome feature of recent games, DMPRFC were always well in the game throughout.

Home scrum half Ben JONES and DMPRFC’s LAW exchanged penalties to add to their sides’ scoring (8 – 8), as the sides were deadlocked as the game progressed to a finale.

Then Caldy began to edge ahead, with two penalties from Jones (14 – 8), which coincided with the ill effects of two yellow cards in an 8-minute period for the visitors, (54th – LAMANNA for collapsing a maul and 66th – CRAGGS after an altercation with Nick Royle, with Rhys HAYES mistakenly binned).

These losses probably heralded the death knell for any prospective comeback for the visitors, ultimately leading to a man short for the latter period, down to 13-players for a couple of minutes, in a very close encounter.

Matt HEATON on his return from the Canadian XV which qualified for the next Rugby World Cup, was the player of the game.

As the game entered the last minutes, DMPRFC still had time to win it with an attacking scrum near to the Caldy line, however it wasn’t to be as the home side held on, edging an important win.

As the league programme moves on towards midway, although DMPRFC are sitting in mid-table, by no means is that a comfortable situation for all concerned. However, apart from a couple of bad games, lost games have been by small margins and with the team admittedly not at their best for whatever reason to date, there is plenty of opportunity to focus and perform in the remaining games. But it is going to need application, hard work and a determination to do so and that is well within DMPRFC’s capabilities.

CALDY RFC SQUAD
15. Rhys HAYES, 14. Nicholas ROYLE, 13. Gavin ROBERTS, 12. Lewis BARKER (BARLOW, 54), 11. Luke HIBBERD, 10. Richard VASEY, 9. Benjamin JONES, 1. Robert O’DONNELL (WHITTAKER, 48), 2. Edward STAGG, 3. Derek SALISBURY (O’DONNELL, SALISBURY, 64), 4. Martin GERRARD, 5. Thomas SANDERS, 6. John COLLISTER, 7. Nyle DAVIDSON, 8. Josiah DICKINSON.
Replacements not used: Michael CARTMILL, Ryen SPENCER-WOLFE, Callum RIDGEWAY.

SCORING
Try: HIBBERD (29)
Conversion: None
Penalty: JONES (45, 54, 77)
Drop Goal: None
Player of the Match: Lewis BARKER

Yellow card: Rhys HAYES (66)

DMPRFC SQUAD
15. Christian GEORGIOU, 14. Brandon ASHER-WOOD, 13. Pera GIBBS, 12. Callum MACKENZIE, 11. Shaun McCARTNEY, 10. Garry LAW, 9. Matt DUDMAN, 1. Alfie BARRON, 2. Christopher WOOD (Jordan POOLE, 64), 3. Ralph APPLEBY (Ignas DARKINTIS, 68), 4. Jacob BRADY, 5. Franco LAMANNA MIRANDA (Talite VAIOLETI, 77), 6. David FISHER, 7. Matt HEATON, 8. Joe CRAGGS.
Replacements not used: Joseph DUFFY, Oliver WALKER.

Try: Jacob BRADY (9)
Conversion:
Penalty: LAW (51)
Drop Goal: None
Player of the Match: Matt HEATON

Yellow card: Joe CRAGGS (54), Franco LAMANNA MIRANDA (66)

Referee: Mr Timothy ALLATT
Assistant Referee 1: Dr. Tim BROWN
Assistant Referee 2: Mr Jason GARRICK
Attendance: 178